Effects of replacing fish meal with different levels of Lead tree (Leucaena leucocephala) leaf powder on growth, survival, digestive enzymes activity, muscle biochemical composition and texture of white-leg shrimp Penaeus vannamei Boone, 1931

This study investigated the effects of replacing fish meal with Leucaena leucocephala leaf powder on survival,growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, biochemical body composition and muscle texture of the whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei Boone, 1931). Five different diets were examined, by replacing fish meal withL. leucocephala leaf powder at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%, in triplicates. Shrimps were stocked in 0.5 m3 tanks @ 70 shrimps pertank and fed on the experimental diets for a period of 60 days. The results showed that the survival rate (%), daily weightgain (g day-1), specific growth rate (% day-1), feed intake (% fish-1 day-1), feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, andprotein retention were not significantly different (p>0,05) among the treatment groups. The values of α-amylase and pepsinin the stomach and chymotrypsin (mU min-1 mg protein-1) in the intestine were not significantly different among treatments.However, the value of α-amylase in the intestine was significantly higher in animals fed diets that replaced fish meal withL. leucocephala leaf powder at 0, 5 and 10% compared to other treatments. The biochemical constituents (except for lipid)and the texture (N) of shrimp meat were not significantly different among treatment groups. The results suggested thatL. leucocephala leaf powder could replace fish meal up to 20% in white-leg shrimp diets. Keywords: Digestive enzyme, Growth, Leucaena leucocephala, White-leg shrimp